Floating Island - Triple S Talent-Chapter 513: Towards war

This clearly showed how serious the Invictus Sect was about this war and how generous they were to the elders involved.

A 1-Star Spirit Artifact was no ordinary item. Crafting one required rare materials from across the cosmos and special locations infused with unique energy.

However, to Lein, such artifacts weren't particularly valuable. With his abilities, he could duplicate most artifacts he encountered. Even so, he was still interested in collecting more artifact variations, especially if they had unique effects he didn't possess yet.

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Moreover, the reward of one million mission points was tempting. Lein's lips curled into a small smile, his thoughts drifting to a particular place.

"I need to check the sect's vault," he mused, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Maybe there's something valuable there."

Visions of shelves filled with rare treasures filled his mind. If he gained access to the sect's treasure vault, he might be able to smuggle out one or two valuable items for duplication.

However, everything depended on their exchange system. If they only provided a list of items that could be redeemed with points without direct access to the artifacts themselves, then he had no way to duplicate anything secretly.

Lein let out a long sigh. "Hopefully, that's not the case," he murmured.

But before thinking about the sect's treasures, there was something more important. He had to complete the mission first. Among all the available tasks, eliminating a Grandmaster-tier enemy was the most reasonable choice.

With his current strength, he could do it efficiently. However, if Dragnar joined, the mission could be completed much faster. Unfortunately, there was a significant risk—Durnhardt's presence could attract stronger enemies.

Lein narrowed his eyes, thinking quickly. His final decision was simple: he would only summon Dragnar if the situation became truly dire.

"Let's go, Dragnar," Lein finally said, turning toward the exit of the Manifestation Zone.

Dragnar, the muscular old man with long white hair, immediately followed. However, something had changed. If before he seemed hesitant and doubtful, now his gaze was more resolute.

He had witnessed firsthand how Lein duplicated Law Seeds—something even the highest law experts couldn't easily accomplish. His instincts told him one thing: Lein was no ordinary person.

Dragnar once said that following Lein would bring great benefits. Now, he was beginning to believe those words.

***

At the edge of a tranquil lake, Luxador stood tall, both hands raised in front of an ancient mirror. A greenish glow pulsed from his palms, flowing into the mirror's surface, which trembled slightly. The immense energy flow made the surrounding air vibrate.

Blurred images began to appear one by one within the mirror. Scenes of slaughter. Bodies scattered, flames licking the sky, buildings collapsing in fiery destruction.

Luxador's gaze sharpened as the final image emerged—a monstrous giant standing amidst the ruins. Its massive arm was raised high, fingers clenched around an invisible figure, as if choking someone unseen.

Crack!

The mirror cracked before shattering into pieces, falling to the ground with a sharp clatter. Luxador's energy weakened instantly, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. His eyes widened, true fear gripping his heart.

"Ugh..."

A sharp, searing pain struck his stomach, causing him to stagger. He coughed hard, fresh blood spilling from his lips, staining his dark robes. His hand clutched his abdomen tightly, trying to suppress the agony coursing through his body.

"Leader, are you alright?"

Darius stepped forward quickly, his expression filled with concern as he grasped Luxador's shoulder, ensuring he didn't collapse.

Luxador raised a weak hand, waving it dismissively. "It's nothing," he said, his voice hoarse. With the back of his hand, he wiped the blood from the corner of his lips.

His eyes regained their sharpness, filled with both worry and anger. "They are most likely receiving help from the Blood Sect," he said in a low voice. His lips curled into a bitter sneer before he continued, "And even worse... I fear that one of the Council members is involved in this."

Darius frowned. If that were true, then the situation was far worse than he had anticipated. The Council members were King-tier—Tier 5. With power like that, even the Invictus Sect wouldn't stand a chance of holding out.

"So what should we do, sir? Should we file a complaint with the Guardians?" Darius asked, his voice tense. He fully understood how terrifying a Tier 5 ruler could be.

Luxador didn't answer immediately. He stared at Darius with a raised eyebrow before speaking in a flat tone, "Do you have any proof?"

Darius fell silent. Cold sweat began to form on his temple. He realized his mistake—his fear had made him reckless. Filing a complaint without solid evidence would only bring more trouble to their sect.

Luxador took a deep breath, his gaze shifting toward the horizon. "For now, all we can do is endure… while gathering useful information," he said, his voice calm yet filled with determination.

***

In the vast emptiness of the universe, Lein stood aboard the warship belonging to the Sect. On the main deck, he sat calmly in a sturdy black chair, his eyes fixed on the holographic map floating above the table. The blue dots moved slowly within it, marking the positions of allied forces and the enemy's movement paths.

"Dragnar, do you know anything about the Invictus Sect?" Lein asked without taking his eyes off the map.

Across the table, Dragnar sat in a relaxed posture, though a faint tension lingered in his shoulders. He shook his head slightly before replying, "No, Master. I'm not even from the Nova Consortium Dominion." His voice was steady, but there was a hint of sorrow hidden within it.

Lein gave a small nod. "No wonder," he thought to himself. Dragnar had been enslaved by a ruler above the King level, so it was natural that he had no idea where he would be sold.

"Brother Lein, is it really okay to leave Sister Laras behind while we go to war?" Efan asked, his voice laced with concern. Previously, they had never strayed too far from the Sect's territory, and Efan always felt more at ease knowing that Laras was safe while making breakthroughs.

Lein glanced at him briefly before replying, "No need to worry. I've already marked her."

Without further explanation, he took out a golden scroll that emitted faint crackles of lightning around it. A stream of energy swirled around the scroll like tiny stars pulsing in the darkness.

[Starshifter Scroll]

Type: Spirit Artifact

Rank: 3-Star

Essence: 350,000

Abilities: (Celestial Warp), (Astral Stability)

Efan's eyes widened, and even Dragnar, who was rarely surprised, tensed slightly in his seat.

"Wow... a spirit artifact," Efan muttered in awe.

Lein merely gave a faint smile before tossing the scroll to him. "Make one for yourself. Use it only in an emergency," he said casually.

Without waiting for a response, Lein then tossed a small black pouch toward Efan. The pouch trembled slightly, indicating the powerful energy contained within.

"To activate it, you'll need astral energy from these crystals," Lein added in a nonchalant tone.

Efan accepted everything with a wide grin. For others, such an item would be incredibly valuable, but to Lein, high-grade artifacts were merely tools to be used efficiently.

With an expression full of gratitude, Efan looked at him for a moment before turning his attention back to the scroll in his hands, fiddling with it as he tried to grasp the sheer magnitude of the power sealed within. "Thank you, Brother Lein," he said before once again focusing on the artifact he had just received, eager to understand its full potential.